On December 12, 2008 my wife Sheri and I headed to Halifax to visit the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia and a few of the graves of Pennfield Ridge’s “Forgotten Heroes”.
Arriving in the Nova Scotia capital, sun setting upon the downtown skyline, one could not help to reflect on the 700 plus Royal Air Force airmen who arrived in Halifax Harbour on the evening of April 16, 1942. Their singular purpose: establish No.34 Operational Training Unit in Canada. Now, in 2008, we were honouring a few who never experienced the promise that long hung in Store Accounts, Pennfield Ridge, “Don’t Worry! You will soon be on the boat.”
The next morning, setting out for Dartmouth, crossing over the MacDonald Bridge and slowly making our way to Mount Hermon Cemetery. It is here where over 7,900 people lay in a state of peaceful sleep, including F/L Walter Samuel Leslie SMALLMAN (GB39003).
| 25-August-1941: SMALLMAN was killed in the crash of Anson 6644 near Liverpool, NS. His story featured in our previous column “Would Be Rescuers”. |
More adventures would have to wait as Yarmouth lay just over three hours away in one direction and Reserve Mines (Cape Breton) some four hours away in the opposite direction – both one-way travelling times!
On December 14, 2008, after enjoying a hearty breakfast on the Halifax waterfront, we headed down the south shore towards Yarmouth. Arriving around noon, our first stop was at the “RCAF Station Yarmouth (East Camp) WWII Memorial”.
East Camp initially housed No.34 Operational Training Unit from April 16, 1942 until May 31, 1942 before the Unit relocated to Pennfield Ridge. Also, No.34 Operational Training Unit Detachment (Armament Training Wing) would operate from here from August 29, 1942 until April 30, 1942 – the first nine courses at Pennfield Ridge would receive a portion of their training at both “the Ridge” and Yarmouth.
Then literally just a strong stone throw away from East Camp lies Yarmouth Mountain Cemetery. Driving through the cemetery’s main gate located on Parade Street, we quickly spot Ritchie Memorial Chapel. It was from this Chapel that the funerals of P/O Harold Otho MALE (GB657604) (Pilot) and AC1 Thomes Frederick SARGEANT (GB1125256) (FME) were held with 90% of the Detachment in attendance.
Then climbing “the mountain” (the cemetery’s original 11-acre section was known as “the mountain”) we are greeted by 13 military markers in a common plot. Four of whom, namely Sgt. Pilot John Edward FRANCKEISS (GB1525643) (Pilot), MALE, SARGEANT and Sgt. Keith Robert SELF (AUS425367) (WAG), are part of Pennfield Ridge’s “Forgotten Heroes”.
| 20-November-1942: MALE was detailed to fly Ventura AE932 from Yarmouth to Dartmouth to collect freight. F/O Stanley Evan SUTHERLAND (J/15455) (WOAG) and three passengers, SARGEANT being one of them, also made the trip. The a/c arrived at Dartmouth at 1640 hrs. Two of the passengers remained there and at 1740 hrs. the aircraft took off on its return journey. Messages were received from the aircraft at 1803 hrs. and 1823 hrs. Then word soon came that the aircraft had crashed four miles north-east of Caledonia, Queens, County., NS killing all aboard. |
| 23-April-1943: FRANCKEISS, SELF and Sgt. Kenneth George CALVERT (R/144389) took off at 1157 hrs. G.M.T., in Ventura AE878, on an authorized cross-country flight, height 6,000 feet.
Nineteen minutes after take-off RAF ground station received a message from aircraft to the effect that it was returning to base. No reasons were given for the return. Nine minutes later the R/T operator in the control tower (RCAF) heard aircraft calling: “878 calling tower, are you receiving me?” Operator replied: “Tower to 878, receiving you loud and clear, go ahead.” 878 back to tower: “I can barely hear you, but I am 15 miles north of aerodrome, we are going to force land. Both engine dead.”. This last message was acknowledged. No further communication passed.
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After a day well spent exploring Yarmouth, the remains of East Camp and paying our respects to some of the fallen of No.34 Operational Training Unit we returned to our stagging area for our final night in Nova Scotia. We spent the evening exploring the 121 Titanic graves located at Fairview Lawn Cemetery, enjoying the various exhibits at the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic and partaking the sights and sounds found along the 4.4 km. boardwalk of the Halifax waterfront.
The following morning, December 15, 2008, was time to commence our journey back home. However, before putting Halifax in the review mirror, we decide to take a thirty-minute detour up NS-101 E to Windsor, NS. Here, in Maplewood Cemetery, lie the remains of P/O George Wellington COWIE (NZ422262) (Pilot) and P/O Clifford Avery GRIFFITHS (NZ421703) (Navigator). Close by lies another member of the crew, Sgt. Arthur Cornelius MULCHAY (AUS422234) (AG), at St. John The Evangelist Cemetery.
| 25-June-1943: Ventura AJ186 took off from Pennfield Ridge at 1237 hours G.M.T. for the purpose of carrying out a low flying cross-country navigation exercise. The route was Base-Smith’s Cove, NS-Falmouth, NS-Sackville, NB-Sussex, NB-Saint John, NB-base.
Flying over the Avon River near Falmouth, the aircraft developed engine trouble (seen flying starboard wing low in an attitude suggesting that the starboard engine had cut out), turned inland near Summerville as it began to lose altitude quickly. As the aircraft flew over a grove of pine trees, hitting the top of one of the tallest pine trees causing it to somersault and crash on what was then known as Musgrove Road (now known as Musgrave Road). All occupations were killed. |
Leaving Windsor, one final stop was to be had at Brookfield, visiting the gravesite of F/O Stanley Evan SUTHERLAND (J/15455). SUTHERLAND had been killed in the crash of Ventura AE932, the other two airmen killed with him we had visited the day prior at Yarmouth. Two days after the crash “[the] body of P/O. Sutherland was escorted to the Yarmouth Railway Station by S/Ldr. Burbridge (GB39374), O.C. Detachment, and all Officers of the Detachment. P/O. Kay accompanied the body as representative of the Station Commander.”
Sadly, time did not permit us to visit to the gravesite of F/S Daniel Hillary McNEIL (R/271794) at St. Joseph’s Cemetery, Reserve Mines (Cape Breton). Our visit to the final Pennfield Ridge airmen buried in Nova Scotia soil would have to wait. Still life’s pages turn quickly on the wings of time and many fall days would come and go on Cape Breton Island before we fulfilled our unspoken promise.
The year following our trip I would step into hosting the very successful “Pennfield Ridge War Memorial Services” which 100-150 people attended regularly. Then in 2017, due to the conveyor belt of life rapidly carrying our Veterans off to their final postings, I ceased the services. Uncertain of what to do next an opportunity arose, my mother-in-law wished to make one final visit back home to Sydney Mines (Cape Breton) to visit her remaining siblings. She had not been back home since September 2002.
So, on July 13, 2018 the long-ago unspoken promise was finally fulfilled as I knelt at the gravesite of F/S Daniel Hillary McNEIL (R/271794).
Christian Larsen currently serves as President of Pennfield Parish Military Historical Society. He has been actively involved in researching the genealogical & military history of Pennfield Parish for nearly four decades. From 2009 until 2017 he hosted the annual Pennfield Ridge War Memorial Services. Recognized at the provincial & federal levels for his work with Veterans having been awarded the Queen Elizabeth II’s Diamond Jubilee Medal (2012); Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee Medal (2023); Minister of Veteran Affairs Commendation (2024) & King Charles III’s Coronation Medal (2025). He can be reached at: ppmhsociety@gmail.com
